Red Admiral
Description
Wingspan 2- 2 3/8". fore wings dark brown with darker tips; several white spots and a broad orange crossband on darker part. Hind wings dark brown with orange outter margin. Caterpillars vary in color--black, mottled white, pale green, or brown--and have yellow spots and raised white tubercles.
Habitat
Deciduous forest edges and adjacent meadows.
Range
Throughout North America, except in arctic regions.
Food
Caterpillar eats leaves of hops, nettles, false nettle, and pellitory.
Flight
Spring and midsummer.
Other
Males are territorial and will often chase away other males straying into areas that they claim. The caterpillars feed alone in a folded leaves held together by silk and may pupate in this nest. There are 2 generations a year.
Picture
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